Oakland at work

It’s 4 am in Oakland, and Franklin Street is buzzing with the sound of forklifts, shouting and trucks in reverse. At one storefront, Van Lam checks produce prices on a computer and enters them using a handheld mobile device. Though restaurant owners and shopkeepers are just starting to filter into the wholesale produce stall, Lam’s been there since 2 a.m. He’s there nearly every morning at the same time.

Lam owns West Coast Produce, one of many wholesale produce sellers along Franklin Street near Jack London Square. Before the sun rises, Lam and his wholesale produce team are already working to stock grocery store shelves, small shops and local restaurants with fresh fruits and vegetables.

He’s been in business for about 17 years, but has worked in the produce industry since he was a young man.

“This business is very, very fast paced and very challenging,” he said. “Every day is a different day.”

Lam stocks a variety of produce, ranging from his own favorite tropical fruits to bell peppers and tomatoes. They come from places like Salinas, Hawaii and Mexico. And they end up at small Asian stores around the city, local markets like Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market and restaurants in both the East Bay and San Francisco.

Picking up last year’s Oakland at work series, this video is the first of four that will document workers who physically keep the city running. Next week, we’ll meet an AC Transit bus operator who drives the morning 1-R route.

3 Comments

Thanks Samantha for your interesting article your willingness to do this story before sunrise. It has helped initiate a lively discussion at Chowhound.com about food distribution. Would there be any way to set up an early morning tour if some chowhounders or others are interested in seeing where our food comes from?

At first I didn’t see what it would do for my abs but after about 30 seconds I started feeling a slight burn in places that I hadn’t
felt from sit ups or crunches. I wanted the pink one, but the chances of it making it home and installed were
slim. How do the Debbie Meyer Green Bags work to keep produce
fresh.

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